Huff Named Coach Of The Year

Calgary Stampeders general manager and head coach John Hufnagel has been named the 2014 recipient of the Annis Stukus Trophy, awarded to the Canadian Football League Coach of the Year. Hufnagel was presented with the honour earlier today by CFL President and Chief Operating Officer, Michael Copeland at a luncheon in Winnipeg, Manitoba as part of the CFL’s annual league meetings.

“John Hufnagel’s Stampeders completed one of the greatest seasons in Canadian Football League history with the ultimate prize in Canadian football: a Grey Cup victory”, said Copeland. “Throughout the year, he overcame adversity and put his team in a position to succeed week in and week out. On behalf of our Board of Governors, and our entire league, we congratulate John on this tremendous honour.”

Hufnagel led the Stampeders to their seventh championship in franchise history, their first since 2008; coincidentally the same year Hufnagel originally won the Annis Stukus Trophy.

The Calgary Stampeders showed off their skill as well as tested their team depth in several positions throughout the season. The Stampeders started Bo Levi Mitchell, the league’s youngest starting quarterback, with an offence that had to overcome multiple injuries to key players during the 2014 campaign. Even with these barriers, the Stampeders could not be slowed down, as they continued to run an effective and efficient offence in the CFL; leading the league in points scored, most touchdowns scored and most net yards rushing.

The Calgary Stampeders tied a franchise mark in 2014 with 15 victories, eight of them coming away from McMahon Stadium. After claiming first place in the West, the Stampeders hosted their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Final where they defeated them for the fourth time, sweeping the season series and advancing to the 102nd Grey Cup.

In the championship game in Vancouver, the Stampeders closed out their season in style with a 20-16 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This marked Hufnagel’s second Grey Cup Championship as head coach in his third Grey Cup game.

The CFL Coach of the Year is selected by 65 voting members of the Football Reports of Canada. Hufnagel, the current longest tenured head coach in the CFL received 43 first place votes.